TopCat
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2008
- Messages
- 15,736
- Reaction score
- -3
- Country
- Location
After the 15th amendment to the constitution all religions are supposed to get equal status in the eyes of the state, but yesterday the first sitting of the parliament, since the amendment, started with recitation from only the holy Quran.
Eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik told The Daily Star yesterday, "As other religions have been given the same status and rights, recitation only from the holy Quran undermines and negates the new constitutional provision."
He said the parliament, which brought the new changes to the constitution, should not act in violation of this provision.
The 15th amendment came into effect on Sunday with President Zillur Rahman signing the bill into a law.
A number of senior officials of the parliament secretariat said after the latest amendment to the constitution, followers of other religions may demand that recitations be done from their holy books as well, at the beginning of the parliament's sittings.
Speaker Abdul Hamid said the constitution was amended just a few days ago. "It will take some time to take preparations to begin recitations from other holy books. We will have to appoint some people who will recite from the Geeta and Tripitok," said Hamid, who presided over the sitting at the beginning of yesterday's proceedings.
The speaker said the current session might be prorogued this week after having two more sittings. "So, recitations from other holy books may begin from next session," he added.
Only Quran recited at Sangsad
Eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik told The Daily Star yesterday, "As other religions have been given the same status and rights, recitation only from the holy Quran undermines and negates the new constitutional provision."
He said the parliament, which brought the new changes to the constitution, should not act in violation of this provision.
The 15th amendment came into effect on Sunday with President Zillur Rahman signing the bill into a law.
A number of senior officials of the parliament secretariat said after the latest amendment to the constitution, followers of other religions may demand that recitations be done from their holy books as well, at the beginning of the parliament's sittings.
Speaker Abdul Hamid said the constitution was amended just a few days ago. "It will take some time to take preparations to begin recitations from other holy books. We will have to appoint some people who will recite from the Geeta and Tripitok," said Hamid, who presided over the sitting at the beginning of yesterday's proceedings.
The speaker said the current session might be prorogued this week after having two more sittings. "So, recitations from other holy books may begin from next session," he added.
Only Quran recited at Sangsad